Calendar

Star Theater, Soul'd Out, & Nighttime Asylum are proud to present: OGRE @ the Star.

OGRE is Portland’s #1 Best New Band of 2025, as voted by Willamette Week, and it’s easy to see why. With two bass guitars, one drum kit, and no need for guitars—or permission—they’ve built something loud, physical, and uniquely their own. Their set feels less like a concert and more like controlled demolition. Fusing noise, hardcore, and performance art into a sound that hits hard and stays strange. It’s a distinctly Portland kind of chaos—raw, intentional, and impossible to look away from. 

Even more apparent than the monumental stacks of Sunn amps, primal grooves and ominous red “O’s” donned on their backs, is the band’s pure dedication to creativity and community. Fans know that going to an Ogre show means they’re in for something special that can be shared with a room of people of any size. Their quick rise to prominence in the Portland scene has their fans eager for what’s to come. Their legend and lore is both complete fabrication and entirely earned. 

Play at your own risk. Adult supervision is NOT required. 

WEBSITE // https://www.ogrebyogre.org/

INSTAGRAM // https://www.instagram.com/ogrebyogre/

SPOTIFY // https://open.spotify.com/artist/2VVgdgcVCQxg1QKLpX9GrH?si=pf16h3VPTCCAYqXcMg6EGA

APPLE MUSIC // https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ogre/1652616623

YOUTUBE // https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX3Zt_7_C9k

BANDCAMP // https://ogrebyogre.bandcamp.com/

“Do not be afraid; our fate cannot be taken from us; it is a gift”

― Dante’s Inferno

This April, join us for a night of fate and destiny at the end of the world with Ragnarok: A Night Carnival of Fate! 

Find your fate as the Norns, Moirai, and Morrigan set your path, cut your thread, and send you on a journey as you’ve never experienced before with performances from some of Portland’s best alternative artists! As the night progresses – dance your destiny with the portentous sounds of HIVE’s gothic DJs until the wee hours in this fateful collaboration!

This costume party and variety show invites you to dress up, test your destiny, and enjoy an evening of preternatural performances as the weavers of fate, determiners of destiny, and tragic heroes mingle in a four-hour evening of portentous proportions. Inspired by mythological personifications of destiny, harbingers of fate, and the end of the world as we know it, Ragnarok is a night for every Oedipus, Banshee, and Vardøger alike, whether you intend to fulfill your destiny – or escape it.

Come dressed as your favorite representation of Fate and enjoy delightfully indulgent cocktails from The Steep and Thorny Way to Heaven mixologists Myrrh Larsen and Megan Skye Hale, magical wares from our featured local vendor, and get a glimpse of your future from the cards at our tarot table.
 

Sunday April 12th

Doors: 6:30pm Show: 7pm

$25 Standing Room GA

$35 Guaranteed Seating GA

$110 Front Row Table For 2 

$150 VIP Table For 2 (includes best view of the show, VIP gift bag, and more!)

STANDING ROOM SHOW. Please email misfitacademy@gmail.com for accommodations.

N95 or equivalent masks highly encouraged for all guests when indoors. Guests incorporating an N95 or equivalent mask into their costume will receive a special thank you gift!

Multiple times a year, The Steep and Thorny Way to Heaven produces the Night Carnival, a themed costume and cocktail party featuring cocktails, costumes, and live acts from Portland’s thriving alternative performance community. As always, 100% of net ticket sales go directly to performers!

Performer profiles and costume inspiration at instagram.com/thenightcarnivalpdx

CHURCH OF HIVE
gothic – industrial – darkwave – dance party

Started by four friends from Lima with a shared passion for traditional Afro-Peruvian music and global DJ culture, Novalima stands in the common ground bridging past and future, uniting tradition and innovation.

From their humble start, file-sharing musical ideas and producing their first album in separate countries at the dawn of the internet, Novalima is now a live musical force revered worldwide for breaking boundaries and uniting seemingly irreconcilable genres, communities, and generations. They have created an inspiring movement and revolutionized the music scene in their native Peru by bridging a longstanding divide between the mainstream and the minority Afro-Peruvian community, who have struggled against discrimination and cultural dissolution for generations.

During their career, Novalima has garnered worldwide critical acclaim from mainstream (NPR, UK Guardian, Wall Street Journal, La Presse, Metro, Billboard) and underground media (Giant Step, Remezcla, Sounds & Colors, Nat Geo) alike, delivered legendary performances around the world at festivals such as Roskilde, WOMAD, Pirineos Sur, NYC Central Park, Montreal Jazz Festival and Chicago’s Millennium Park, earned a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Alternative Album, and were featured in cult filmmaker Robert Rodriguez’s hit Mexploitation movie Machete.

While their sound is futuristic and cutting-edge, the roots of Novalima’s music reach back hundreds of years. In a far-too familiar tale, African slaves were brought to Peru as early as the 1500s until the middle of the 19th Century, establishing an outpost of the African-Diaspora on the Pacific coast of South America. Over the years, the soul and rhythms of Africa melded with the melodies and instruments of Europe and the Andes. The result is rich musical repertoire that existed for generations on the periphery of Peruvian popular culture.

The founders of Novalima, Ramon Perez-Prieto, Grimaldo Del Solar, Rafael Morales, and Carlos Li Carrillo, became friends and started playing together in Lima during their high school years, playing a pivotal part in the 80s underground hardcore punk, and the 90s psychedelic/acid-rock scenes. As children of artists and intellectuals, Ramon, Grimaldo, Rafael and Carlos were well educated and well traveled, and while they listened to traditional Peruvian folk music regularly in family reunions and in the street, they relentlessly explored new sounds in Rock, Dub Reggae, Latin and Electronic Music, which became grounds for their own discovery.

Portland! @thestansociety presents 1D Night at Star Theater on 5/2. Dance all night to One Direction, solo hits from Harry, Niall, Louis, and Zayn, plus the best pop throwbacks and fan-favorite anthems. Sing your heart out with fellow Directioners all night long.

21+

9pm–1am

MASTER BOOT RECORD (aka MBR) is a project founded in 2016 by producer Vittorio D’amore mixing together heavy metal and synthesized electronic music. 

Starting in 2016 releasing albums under the indie label Data Airlines has moved in 2018 to synthwave iconic label Blood Music to expand its audience to the electronic community. In 2019 MASTER BOOT RECORD settled with Metal Blade Records, the historic metal label based in Los Angeles to release the latest two albums “Floppy Disk Overdrive (2020)” and “Personal Computer(2022)” helping the project to gain increased popularity worldwide. MBR has also produced the video game “VirtuaVerse” as well as its original soundtrack. VirtuaVerse was released in 2020 on all gaming platforms as well as Nintendo Switch, Xbox and Playstation. 

The project as a live band increased their live activity in 2022 including live performing artists such as the guitar virtuoso and Ibanez endorser Edoardo Taddei at lead guitars and technical death metal drummer Giulio Galati. 

MBR released 14 albums so far with multiple record labels and has been one of the most successful musicians on US digital distribution platform Bandcamp charting #1 in general charts several times. Because of that Bandcamp often featured the albums and made interviews directly with the artist.

The rapid growth of the project sparked an intense live activity with several tours in Europe and North American as well as participating to festivals such as Super Mag Fest (USA), Resurrection Fest (Spain), Brutal Assault (Czech Republic), Wacken Open Air (Germany), Baroeg Open Air (Netherlands), Resistanz Festival (UK), SWR Fest (Portugal), Frantic Fest (Italy) 

In 2024–2025, MASTER BOOT RECORD expanded globally with the release of “Hardwarez” (Metal Blade Records, October 2024), followed by an extensive world tour across North America, Canada, the UK, and Europe between September and November 2024, totaling more than 40 shows. 

Star Theater & Soul'd Out Present:  New Candys
With special guests:   TBA

Doors: 6:00pm   //  Show: 7:00pm  //  Ages 21+ 

https://newcandys.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/NewCandys/ 
https://www.instagram.com/NewCandys/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0pPa2J0HCTVmaL8PurSeoC 

Born of the woods, rivers, and waterfalls of the Pacific Northwest, Sol Seed is a reggae-fusion collective blending deep reggae grooves with hip-hop, rock, soul, and psychedelic world-music textures. Known for rich, diverse vocals, unique instrumentation, and a live show that turns crowds into one big family, Sol Seed spent the 2010s touring the U.S., winning awards, and sharing the scene with many of the industry’s heavyweights.

After releasing fan-favorite albums Family Tree and The Spark, and racking up tens of millions of lifetime streams (including Sugarshack’s viral “Family Tree” session), the band took a brief hiatus for family and life. They’ve since regrouped – back in the studio and back on the scene – digging deeper into the conscious, uplifting songs that carry the Pacific Northwest’s deep-roots spirit wherever they play.

Garcia Birthday Band, based in Portland Oregon, isn’t your mother’s Grateful Dead cover band. Playing for over 25 years, GBB has evolved into something far deeper than the sum of its parts. The beating heart of the Pacific Northwest’s GD community, the band’s ever-expanding fanbase is an experience unto themselves. Using the Dead’s repertoire as a springboard for limitless potential and improvisation, Garcia Birthday Band is a cornerstone of the modern Grateful Dead universe, and their fans have come to expect the unexpected as the norm.

Placing no boundaries on eras of the Dead’s career or catalog, and drawing on decades of individual and shared experience, GBB plays the music through an auditory kaleidoscope. Composed of some of the most ace players of the Oregon live music community, the band makes every show an act of exploration, both musically and spiritually. United hearts and minds blur the line between the stage and crowd – a carnival of human potential. If you’re new to Garcia Birthday Band, their doors are always open, and you’ll recognize it as something familiar
when you first walk in: home. 

You may recognize the fellas in GBB from acts such as Nine Days Wonder, Cubensis, Shafty, Turkey Bouillon Mafia, The Campfire Boys, Deadhenge, Shadow of Sound, The Buds of May, The Ike Willis Band, Dead Sessions, and Dark Matter Transfer.

INFECTED RAIN experienced their most successful years yet in 2022 and 2023, commencing with the release of their fifth full-length album, Ecdysis. The album garnered prime media acclaim, hundreds of thousands of streams and views, and debuted in the Top 20 on the US Current Hard Music charts – all accented by worldwide performances at major festivals and with the likes of Butcher Babies, Wednesday 13 and more. On February 9, 2024, the band will climb even higher with their multifaceted sixth album, TIME. Described by the multinational band as “an homage to every fleeting second, every heartbeat, and every breath that has led us to this moment,” TIME was once again produced, mixed and mastered by Valentin Voluta, and combines the deft talents of returning members Vidick (guitars, cover artist), Eugene Voluta (drums) and famed frontwoman Lena Scissorhands (vocals), plus introduces new member Alice Lane (bass) to the fold. 

INFECTED RAIN exercise their trademarks with TIME, tastefully accenting the introspective musical journey with effectively-placed progressive, electronic and even nu-metal features amid ethereal passages. First track “BECAUSE I LET YOU” bursts in with undeniable energy,

boasting aggressive lyrics and Lena Scissorhands’ swift, menacing delivery. Previously released first single “DYING LIGHT” marches with subterranean heaviness and rhythmic grooves beneath eerie vocals and keys, and even snaps into an EDM passage, showcasing the dynamic delivery of the band in 2024. “NEVER TO RETURN” flirts with trip-hop elements and far eastern instrumentation before the melodic ode to self-empowerment “LIGHTHOUSE” crashes in to juxtapose soft verses and intense auditory shifts. Album standout and djent driven “VIVARIUM” warns of society’s fickle freedoms as Lena Scissorhands delivers some of the album’s most hair-raising screams amid a haunting, ominous atmosphere, while fast-paced burners like “THE ANSWER IS YOU” and “ENMITY” flash between various EDM, synthwave and even drum and bass brushed transits amid bludgeoning rhythms. Intense “GAME OF BLAME” explores themes of hypocrisy and emotional pain delved out by those we love while boasting one of the album’s most searing breakdowns, while tracks like “PANDEMONIUM” and “UNPREDICTABLE” detail the uncontrollable energy of the future and past, respectively – boasting lofty, angelic verses with hard-hitting guitars and punching drums. Italian/English-language journey “PAURA” closes out the album with a path to self-discovery – beckoning the listener to understand that we limit ourselves with our own fears, and must harness the pain to overcome. TIME ends in a state of calm with ambient finisher “A SECOND OR A THOUSAND YEARS” – drawing the curtains closed on yet another fantastic, experimental expedition by rising stars INFECTED RAIN. 

ChRocktikal the 1st World Tour [CRTK: The Beginning] marks the arrival of Korean rock band ChRocktikal to North America for the first time ever. The band is ready to meet and perform for their fans as they hit the road on their debut North American run in support of their first full-length album We break, you awake.

Formed under Dreamcatcher Company and LEEGEUM ENT., ChRocktikal is a dynamic co-ed group fronted by powerhouse vocalist Lee Siyeon, known for her work with Dreamcatcher, and have quickly established their own identity with a bold, high energy sound and commanding live presence. The wait is finally over, ChRocktikal are bringing the energy to North America, and you won’t want to miss it.

Tickets for ChRocktikal will go on sale Tuesday Feb 24 at 10AM (CST).

General Admission: $50
– This is a first come first serve ticket to see ChRocktikal on their first time on tour!

VIP: $125 – This ticket includes:
– Your ChRocktikal concert ticket

– Skip The Line

– Sound Check Party

– Group Photo

– Send-Off after the show

*LIMITED!*
 Please arrive by 4pm!!


VVIP: $150 – This ticket includes:
– Your ChRocktikal concert ticket

– Skip The Line

– Sound Check Party

– Group Photo

– Send-Off after the show

– ChRocktikal Fan Sign
*LIMITED!*
 Please arrive by 4pm!!


Everything Ticket: $250 – This ticket includes:
– Your ChRocktikal concert ticket

– Skip The Line

– Sound Check Party

– Group Photo

– Send-Off after the show

– ChRocktikal Fan Sign
– Exclusive Photocard
– You+
*LIMITED!*
 Please arrive by 4pm!!


ADD ON: 

You+: $99 – This is a solo photo of You + ChRocktikal, taken on your mobile phone by our staff! LIMITED! (This does not include a concert ticket.)

Tickets are limited and available while supplies last.

"HOLY JOHN HUGHES THAT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!!"

Get ready to turn up the nostalgia and sing your heart out! Synthpop sweethearts Shannon Curtis and Jamie Hill return to Star Theater with 80s kids 2 — the second installment of their nationally touring hit side project 80s kids.

80s kids 2 — lovingly referred to by those in the know as "80s kids 2: The Empire Strikes Back" — is a high-octane joyride through the best of 1980s synthpop — tied together with funny, moving stories about growing up in the 80s.

From the electrifying beats of Pet Shop Boys and New Order to the heart-on-the-sleeve melodies of OMD and Erasure, this show is a love letter to the decade of iconic anthems and underdog heroes.

This dynamic concert-style theater show features all-time favorites from Thompson Twins, Soft Cell, Alphaville, Naked Eyes, The Human League, and many more — delivered in a wildly fun and interactive performance that feels like you’re experiencing them live for the first time.

With awesome, authentic sound, amazing immersive video art, killer merch, inclusive energy, and magnetic, joyful stage presence, this hit show is an experience that you don’t want to miss. Get your tickets today!

* Freebies at the merch table for people wearing 80s fashion!

Live videos and more information: https://80skids.live

RAVES FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY

"HOLY JOHN HUGHES THAT WAS SO MUCH FUN!!! You guys were amazing!!" — Andrea W, Burlington, VT

"I wasn't sure what to expect from your show, but I didn't have any idea it was going to be that amazing. That was phenomenal!!" — Mary S, St. Louis, MO

"OMG that was so incredible!! It was sincerely the best time I've had in months." — Simone D, Oakland, CA

"It was electric, exciting, and emotional. I needed to see your show so much more than I anticipated!" — Hillary C, San Diego, CA

"My partner and I had such a great time singing and dancing along to literally every single song! SO. Friggin. Good!!"  — Brenton S, Austin, TX

Kabaka Pyramid is a Grammy Award Winning Rastafarian lyricist fusing elements of Reggae, Hip Hop and Dancehall to create a unique sound, revolutionizing Jamaica music with conscious messages.
 

A key pillar of the Reggae Revival movement, Kabaka Pyramid carved his way into the Jamaican reggae scene with Rebel Music in 2011 with marquee songs like “Free From Chains” and “Warrior” featuring Protoje. His hip hop roots were evident in the lyrical style and hard hitting beats, laying the foundation for an ever ascending career highlighted by the classic marquee sophmore album “The Kalling” produced by role model Damian “Jr Gong” Marley.

This chart topping artist has developed a solid global fan-base that connects deeply with the messages in his music, touring extensively over the past 10 years to the largest of Reggae stages around the world and headlining numerous 20+ multi-city club tours and some the greatest reggae festivals worldwide. Kabaka is well known for delivering an electrifying and entertaining live performance with his band “The Bebble Rockers”.

The Kingston native, born Keron Salmon, spent many of his early years developing his sound as a part of Bebble Team, a talented group of friends and schoolmates that would be the foundation of his independent label Bebble Rock. Rebel Music was the fruit of this preparation and Kabaka’s career as a reggae artist was born. After touring europe in 2012, prominent producers would take an interest and staple songs “No Capitalist” and “Never Gonna be A Slave” as well as hit songs “Mi Alright” featuring Chronixx Chronixx and ‘Well Done’ produced by Damian Marley would follow in 2013 and 2014 respectively. The Billboard charting “Lead The Way EP” in 2013 would cement Kabaka in the international Reggae landscape as well as the career defining “Well Done” produced by Damian Marley in 2015.

ALL SALES FINAL

NO REFUNDS/EXCHANGES

With a distinctly raw, plainspoken form of instinctual song craft, 23-year-old Hayden
Blount has grown into the epitome of a real-deal country outsider … and he’s got no
intentions of changing that up. A native and current resident of Savannah, Tennessee,
the self-taught talent wields a no-B.S. sound and a drive to cut his own path, earning
breakout acclaim with the God’s-honest-truth as his only creative requirement. Because
where Blount comes from, a man’s word is his bond. Living out the lines of countless
country songs, the rising star played baseball throughout high school before an injury
derailed his plans, and rule-breaking country innovators like Zach Bryan and Tyler
Childers refocused his attention. Proving a quick study with a gift for rural realism, the
D.I.Y. singer-songwriter released his first independent tracks in 2023, and in 2024 the
romantic rough edges of “To Know You Were Mine” cut through. Leading to a
distribution deal with Santa Anna, Blount followed up with the 2024 EP debut Up, Out,
and Leaving – nine-songs which solidified his rustic sound and stripped-down melodic
instincts, driven by a vocal built on character, not theatrics. Likewise, brutal honesty
formed the bedrock of a unique creative vision, with solo-written songs keeping Blount
focused – and never chasing trends. The burning desire behind 2024’s “Good God, Hot
Damn” gathered steam, and later that year “Heaven on Earth” became a bonafide hit.
Built on a dusky but propulsive guitar-and-fiddle pairing, it’s racked up more than 25
million streams while standing in sharp contrast to the mainstream. Still based in
Savannah, Blount will spend early 2026 on the road. And with a new debut album in the
works, that style is bound to evolve … but never stray from the truth.

Star Theater & Soul'd Out Presents:  Wax  with DJ Hoppa and Intuition 

Doors: 7:00pm  //  Show: 8:00pm  //  Ages 21+ Welcome. 
https://www.waxdotcom.com/  
https://www.facebook.com/waxdotcom/ 

WAX + DJ HOPPA
Wax and Hoppa had crossed paths musically before, but everything changed when Hoppa joined as Wax's tour DJ in 2024. On the road together, the two quickly discovered a deep creative chemistry and a shared obsession with making music as often as possible.
Hoppa never travels without his portable studio, and that habit turned the tour into a rolling recording session. Songs took shape in hotel rooms, green rooms, and the back of moving vans on long stretches across the US and Canada. "People call it 'work ethic,'" says Wax, "but when your work is fueled by fun and passion, it is very easy to clock in."
The result is Highway Hotel — a road-born album that finds the perfect middle ground between Hoppa's raw hip hop instincts and Wax's melodic range and eclectic lyricism. Hoppa credits the casual environments for keeping things honest: "You are way less likely to overthink… you just do what feels right in the moment and roll with it."
With a stacked guest list featuring Little Stranger, G Love, K.A.A.N., Jarren Benton, Watsky, Jarv, Demrick, ¡Mayday!, Krysta Youngs, Damn Skippy, Kail Problems, Marley B, 1Ton, SUMPP, and Wax's twin brother Herbal T, this is an album you will gladly bump over and over again.

ABOUT WAX
Wax is a rapper/singer/songwriter who has been a niche underground favorite for two decades. He was signed to Def Jam Records, has a Number One Billboard hit song in several countries in Europe, and has a dozen or so albums under his belt. For more info, please visit waxdotcom.com. 

ABOUT DJ HOPPA
DJ Hoppa is a veteran hip hop producer who has racked up hundreds of millions of streams on his various projects. He constantly releases dope music through his own label Broken Complex, and has produced songs for many legendary hip hop artists. 

AK'CHAMEL

Honed and expanded through their travels, and quietly drawing from their South American and Texan roots; Ak’chamel, The Giver of Illness forge a singular sound of desert-scorched psychedelia, fictitious post-apocalyptic shamanism, and impish ritual folk — as unique as the physical theater of their otherworldly live performances.

For over fifteen years they have released dozens of cassettes, several vinyl records, and a handful of cryptic VHS tapes. The trio remains veiled in mystery, yet they tour often—bringing their plague into the ravaged heart of the world.

“Performed in full costume, Ak’chamel are about as weird as we all thought the first season of True Detective was supposed to be” -VICE

DEREK MONYPENY

Born in the Arizona desert, a veteran of multiple explorations into
the Sahara desert via Morocco and Western Sahara, and now a resident
of the Mojave, Derek Monypeny sees his musical mission as adding to
and expanding on what he calls the "desert continuum;" the psychedelic
sirocco swirl of desert-based stringed instruments played with utter
abandon by musicians the world over.

Derek’s “desert continuum” concept takes great inspiration from desert
guitarists whose playing so perfectly reflects their surroundings in
its gnarled beauty and all-pervasive individualism: Richard Bishop,
Zoot Horn Rollo, Curt Kirkwood, Jesus Acedo, Bob Log III, and Howe
Gelb to name a few. In his travels in North Africa, Derek discovered
that same spirit in Saharan guitar playing, in artists such as Seddoum
ould Eide, Hammadi ould Nana, and Luleide ould Dendenni.

Derek uses a variety of instruments to achieve these ends. In addition
to guitar, he has recorded an album of solo oud recordings (Don't
Bring Me Down, Bruce) and is currently performing and recording using
the 15-string electric shahi baaja (Indian electric banjo).

Derek is a former member of the bands Oaxacan (Oakland, CA), ALTO!
(Portland, OR), and Sir Richard Bishop's Freak Of Araby Ensemble. In
addition to his solo work, he has an ongoing duo project with Bryan
Hillebrandt, OAE (Oakland Afternoon Ensemble). He has performed and
toured with artists such as Bill Orcutt, Jozef van Wissem, Lau Nau, Arrington de Dionyso, and many others.

DESCENDING PHARAOHS

Portland-based heavy psych project vibing fight scenes of near-eastern films. Guided by Arabic/Anatolian electric, spiritual jazz, gamelan, and krautrock.

EmoFest is a high-energy night celebrating all things 2000s pop punk, hosted by Discord Addams from RuPaul’s Drag Race alongside Gidget Von Addams. Get ready for interactive games, Emo-Karaoke, exciting prizes, and a pop punk costume contest that brings your favorite angsty era back to life. It’s all emo, all night—so grab your eyeliner, lace up your Converse, and scream your heart out on the dance floor!

Pride in Demand: Portland Queer Takeover lands at Star Theater July 17–18 for a two-night Pride Weekend celebration spotlighting Queer and Trans excellence across music, drag, and comedy.

Night One features co-headlining sets from MORGXN and iLoveMakonnen, alongside comedy from Guy Branum and Mx. Dahlia Belle, with drag performances by Transjenifahs Gawdy and Monique Michaels.

Night Two continues the takeover with Gia Woods and iLoveMakonnen co-headlining, plus comedy from Jeffrey Jay and Rachelle Cochran, and drag performances by Jay Colby and Heavy Cream.

Hosted both nights by Quesa D’Mondays, this Pride Weekend takeover blends live concert energy with cabaret intimacy. With GA, VIP, and two-day festival ticket options available, Pride in Demand is positioned to be one of the most dynamic and inclusive Pride events in the city.

Tickets are on sale now. Early pricing won’t last.

(Note: VIP ticket includes early entry, access to the VIP area, and swag) 

Pride in Demand: Portland Queer Takeover lands at Star Theater July 17–18 for a two-night Pride Weekend celebration spotlighting Queer and Trans excellence across music, drag, and comedy.

Night One features co-headlining sets from MORGXN and iLoveMakonnen, alongside comedy from Guy Branum and Mx. Dahlia Belle, with drag performances by Transjenifahs Gawdy and Monique Michaels.

Night Two continues the takeover with Gia Woods and iLoveMakonnen co-headlining, plus comedy from Jeffrey Jay and Rachelle Cochran, and drag performances by Jay Colby and Heavy Cream.

Hosted both nights by Quesa D’Mondays, this Pride Weekend takeover blends live concert energy with cabaret intimacy. With GA, VIP, and two-day festival ticket options available, Pride in Demand is positioned to be one of the most dynamic and inclusive Pride events in the city.

Tickets are on sale now. Early pricing won’t last.

(Note: VIP ticket includes early entry, access to the VIP area, and swag) 

Hailing from Pomona, California, Alejandro Aranda is a genre-fluid artist whose sound seamlessly weaves together folk, pop, experimental rock, and lush melodic textures. Known for his intricate fingerstyle guitar work and haunting vocal harmonies, Aranda builds immersive sonic landscapes that feel both deeply personal and expansively modern. Never confined to one lane, his music is a constant evolution — each project revealing a new chapter, a new direction, a new leaf being unturned.

Aranda competed in the seventeenth season of American Idol after wowing judges during his audition with two original songs. He went on to perform seven original tracks throughout the competition, the only contestant in the show’s history to do so. Aranda’s unique guitar playing style and stirring vocals garnered support as a fan favorite, and carried him to the season finale where he ultimately came in second.

Since competing on American Idol, Aranda has performed on stages around the world. He has also released several full-length records and EPs, including his most recent album, Farewell Superstar (2025). Aranda also writes and performs with metal band Seven Hours After Violet, a supergroup featuring System Of A Down bassist Shavo Odadjian, Left To Suffer’s Taylor Barber, and Winds of Plague’s Michael "Morgoth" Montoya and Josh Johnson.

J. Roddy Walston is a force of nature. If his hits like Heavy Bells is are a war cry, then the deep cuts like Boys Can Never Tell are a tac@cal cosmic retreat. For some, his music is a form of religion, psychedelic in its intensity, transforma@ve in its grip on the body, shaking loose something primal that’s been buried too long. It’s not about thinking, It’s about moving, feeling, surrendering. His influences are a riot of contradictions:  Kurt
Cobain’s fury, Nilsson’s fractured sweetness, Zeppelin’s power, and somewhere in there
a perverted nod to William Onyeabor’s lonely calculator funk. Cri@cs try to box him in,
but Walston can’t be contained—he does chaos, and his live shows do damage, but
fortunately his songs can pay the tab. Catch him and his band before he burns it all
down again.

VIP DETAILS 

• 1x GA Ticket
• Early Entry
• Meet & Greet
• VIP Laminate
• Exclusive Merch Item

Hailing from a small town in the South of France, Lionel and Marie Limiñana aka The Limiñanas reinvent the 1960s French yéyé heritage by fusing it with modern rock.

Their unique style blends the rebellious spirit and aesthetic of the Gainsbourg and Bardot era with contemporary garage and psychedelic sounds.

Singing in French & English and collaborating with a diverse array of artists, The Limiñanas have a unique ability to distill the cachet of a nostalgic, highly cinematic era while revisiting it through a modern lens.